Spring 2008 Update

Aloha From Benay & Dennis

Springtime has arrived and now we will have warmer, clear and sunny days until the beginning of June at which time the 100 + degree temperatures will return until mid to late October.

Winter visitor’s included Dennis’ sister Maureen and her husband Jerry whom are both now retired and traveling around the country in their super large RV along with their 2 dogs. We also traveled to Las Vegas and stayed 3 days with them at the Flamingo Hotel and rode up to the top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas Hotel and viewed the fabulous Bellagio Hotel water show on the Strip.

We did a lot of Slot / Video Poker / Blackjack tournaments here in Laughlin and up in Las Vegas over the past three months and we met lots of retiree’s like us who enjoy the casino tournaments.

We had a wonderful trip in mid-March to Atlantic City, NJ. for Benay’s Harrah’s Millionaire Maker Video Poker Tournament finals. The round-trip flights were on US Airways, non-stop Las Vegas to Philadelphia, PA. (Positive Space - very rare for us!) and then chauffeured stretched Limo to Atlantic City. We stayed at the beautiful Harrah’s Hotel & Casino. We were able to visit the Boardwalk and Caesars & Bally’s while we were there.

We have attained another goal we set a few years back to again have a condo in Hawaii. We acquired a condo unit in Waikiki Beach, near the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

We will now begin to benefit much more from our travel privileges on American Airlines who in 2001 took over Trans World Airlines. We will be able to commute to Paradise almost anytime we can get on a flight, and head right to our condo. This will aid in giving us a break from the 120° summertime heat in Bullhead City. The daily walks and the fresh ocean air with occasional liquid sunshine raindrops will be a wonderful feature of our dual lifestyle.

In early June, just before summer begins, we will fly to Ohio for the nuptials of Amanda Hulett, the eldest daughter of Dennis’ niece, Tammy Hulett. The wedding will give us a chance to visit with the rest of the Smith clan, sisters Kathleen, Maureen, Eileen and brother Timothy.

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Winter 2007 Update

Winter has arrived and now we will have cooler days with normal temperatures in the mid 50’s to low 60’s most days at least until Spring arrives.

Unfortunately Dennis’ attempt along with 320 other entrants to become a millionaire in Harrah’s Millionaire Maker Slot Tournament in New Orleans in October did not pan out. A very lucky person from the Phoenix, AZ. area won the million dollar tournament.

Fortunately, Benay will now have a chance to become a millionaire in a video poker tournament in Atlantic City, NJ. sometime in March of 2008.

Maybe she will have better luck in her tournament and get a few Royal Flushes that help make big winning scores. Again Harrah’s will provide transportation and accommodations for both of us to the East Coast to attend the tournament just like our trip to New Orleans, LA. at which we had a great time and met many very nice people.

We are looking forward to the return of spring time and hopefully another relaxing trip to Honolulu, Hawaii.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Fall Cool Down Update

We ended the summer in Hawaii with our annual doctors and dentist visits in Honolulu. Had a great time and visited former TWA Honolulu friends and TWAer's from Kansas City.

“The view from our rented condo at the Ilikai Hotel”…home of Jack Lord.
Click on the photo to enlarge.

Now that October is here and the temperatures are starting to cool off, we will still be attending various slot and video poker tournaments in Laughlin and Las Vegas and also celebrating our 30 years of wedded bliss. Wow!

In August I [Dennis J. Smith] entered a slot tournament called “The Millionaire Maker”. Out of 250 participants I came in 5^th that qualified me to be in the finals. The finals are held in New Orleans at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino. All expense paid trip for Benay and I. We actually get to fly as REAL passengers with confirmed reservations. I think that is probably the only time in 41 years we traveled on a full-fare ticket!

Hold on to you hats folks as I intend to win and be a Millionaire!

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Sizzling Summer Update

We have been very busy all spring going to various Las Vegas & Laughlin casinos for slot and video poker tournaments as Benay has recovered remarkably from her surgery.

Now that summer is here, we have plans to do the same, starting with a slot tournament at Harrah’s Laughlin, a Lionel Richie show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas then slot & video poker tournaments at Paris Las Vegas & Rio Hotel, Las Vegas.

More July Slot Tournaments At Flamingo Las Vegas, Aquarius Hotel, Laughlin and Harrah’s Laughlin taking us into August.

We are receiving almost daily, more tournament offers for August & September. We also want to fly over to Honolulu to make our yearly doctor’s visits sometime in September.

For our 30^th anniversary in October we are planning a trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to visit friends and celebrate.

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Spring Time Update

March weather has been the usual desert climate, sunny and warm with a high temperature of 99 degrees already on the 17th.

It has now settled back to the normal highs of 70’s and 80’s.

Benay awoke on March 21st with some mild discomfort in her abdomen and back and it progressed to severe pain by 10 pm that night. After taking her to our local hospital and after many overnight tests, it was determined that she was suffering from gallstone blockage. By 6 am she was already scheduled for surgery. The laparoscopic method was used and the surgeon decided that the gallbladder should be removed. The 90-minute operation was successful and now she is now resting up at home and getting stronger and in training for the next slot tournament.

Thank goodness we were close to home and not in the remote area of Captain Cook, Hawaii, where we spent quite a bit of time in the past 2 years. Our local hospital is only 5 minutes away from our house.


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Mid-October Update

We were fortunate that we were not house sitting on the Big Island on October 15th as we have been informed that the house Ralph owned and has sold had quite a shake and lots of household goods crashed onto the beautiful hard wood floors. The house is located about 40 miles from the epicenter of the 6.6 earthquake and just miles from the landslide in Kealakekua Bay.

We felt a few strong jolts and the house shaking while we were there off and on for about 2 years but luckily we missed “the big one”.

This week we are driving Benay’s 2006 Sonata up to Northern California to visit daughter Lesley and her family in Auburn and will be putting some miles on the new car.





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October Update

We had another great visit to St. Louis, Missouri, where we saw family and a lot of good friends. On the driving trip home we stopped off in Castle Rock, Colorado to visit another Honolulu, Hawaii ex TWA’er who is working for Southwest Air in their new Denver hub.

We then decided to look into another car to replace Benay’s 1991 Toyota Camry while driving thru Las Vegas, Nevada on our way home. The Toyota Camry has served us well in Honolulu, Hawaii and for another 8 years since returning to the mainland in Bullhead City, Arizona.

Benay crying her eyes out over losing her car.

This time we chose to try out a 2006 Hyundai Sonata, built in Montgomery, Alabama with the same equipment as the Toyota Camry and with air bags for more safety.

The replacement.

October travel plans include a few Slot / Video Poker Tournaments with dinner banquets in Las Vegas, Nevada. Early November we will attend Las Vegas Casino sponsored Birthday parties for November born folks (Dennis) at Golden Nugget and Flamingo Hotels. For Benay's Birthday, she received tickets from her son Dale and his wife Connie to see Barbra Streisand in concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on November 20th.

We are keeping busy and enjoying our retirement and the golden years!

Aloha
Benay & Dennis

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